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Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Rice Pilaf

Hey guys! Hope everyone is doing well. I know I've still been a busy bee, but after Friday, I'll have a little bit more time on my hands because it's my last final of the quarter. So I'll have a two week break before having to go at it all over again.

And I tell ya, it's going to be a much needed break. I might even find myself sleeping more (right now I'm averaging about 5 hours a night, if I'm lucky!).

Anyway, I thought I'd post an easy side dish that any one can make. It's a versatile dish where you can really add practically anything to, and keeps really well if you have leftovers.

Ingredients:

1 oz. clarified butter2 oz. onion, small diced1 oz. celery, small diced1 oz. carrot, small diced1 cup white rice2 cups stock (chicken, beef, fish, vegetable - I happened to only have beef in the fridge so I used that)1/2 bay leafsalt and pepper, to taste

our mise en place

Heat a medium saucepan under medium high heat and add your butter. When your butter is heated up, add your vegetables and sweat (cook without browning) them, about 3-5 minutes.

Once the vegetables are slightly softened, add the rice. Stir until lightly toasted, about 1-2 minutes.

Then slowly incorporate your stock of choice.

Then add your half of a bay leaf.

Bring mixture to a boil.

Then lower to a simmer and cover.

Let cook for about 20-25 minutes, or until about 95% of stock is absorbed into rice.

Serve as is or use as a side dish for a main course. We ended up sauteing a few shrimp, putting them on top of the pilaf, and calling it dinner!

Hope everyone is doing well and surviving the holiday season (once again, I've completed all of my Christmas shopping online, avoiding the malls like the plague!).

45 comments:

Glad you school term is coming to and end and I bet you can use the break! Sleep, rest and recharge!! This rice looks wonderful and I need to try cooking rice in a pot instead of in a rice cooker. Thanks for showing me how easy it can be. :)

Poor Peggy - lack of sleep! Hang in there, hopefully you can rest a bit during holiday time. This pilaf looks so delicious. I love pilaf but a little Japanized version... =P I love how simple this recipe is!

You sound just as busy as me! This looks like a flavorful dish. I hope you are having a relaxing Sunday, my friend. I'm about to begin a week of baking, traveling and celebrating with family. Much love and many blessings.

Im not even busting my booty nearly as hard as you and I could use a two week break. Only 5 hours a night. I wish I could remember what those days were like. Im a cranky b*tch unless I get at least 7. You are really taking awesome strides and I love hearing about school and work and Andy and all of it. I am so excited for you and cant wait to see where it all takes you. This pilaf looks comforting and tasty. Thanks for finding time to share it with us. Bring on 2012!